Living the dream in the Dordogne

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The open-plan living, dining and occasional party space in the converted barnAlexander James

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The kitchenAlexander James

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The bedroomAlexander James

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The side wall opens on hinges to give views of the terraceAlexander James

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Katie Elliott ArmitageAlexander James

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Chairs in the living areaAlexander James

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The upper levelAlexander James

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Mike Elliott ArmitageAlexander James

Vinny Lee

Published at 4:46PM, January 25 2014

Hydraulic hinges and moveable walls transformed a ruined barn into a stylish home

“When life throws you scraps, make a quilt,” the saying goes. For Katie
Elliott Armitage, it rings true in more ways than one. First, it
encapsulates how a ragbag series of events came together to create an
enviable lifestyle, and second, it relates to her lifelong love of fabrics
and sewing, which eventually became the source of not one, but two
businesses.

Elliott Armitage, who trained as a graphic designer and used to work in
advertising, had an ongoing love affair with France. During the late
Nineties she and her sister, Susie Bolton Nash, made frequent visits, often
buying vintage